Packing and storing vessel.



No. 641,574. Patented m.- l6, I900. E. c. BERRY.

PAGKING AND STORING VESSEL.

(Application filed May 4. 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC EDWARD CHARLES BERRY, OF PLYMOUTH, YVISCONSIN.

PACKING AND STORING VESSEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,574, dated J anuary 16, 1900.

Application filed May 4, 1899. Serial No. 715,574. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD CHARLES BERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plymouth, in the county of Sheboygan and State of WVisconsin, have invented a new and useful Packing and Storing Vessel, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to packing and storing vessels, being particularly designed to contain cheese; and the object of the invention is to provide a box with improved means for ventilating the interior thereof, so as to prevent molding and damage to the cheese contained therein.

To this end the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cheese-box having the improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the box. Fig. i is a detail perspective view of the spacing device for separating the cheeses contained within the box. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the box containing a plurality of cheeses and having the cover removed. 7

Corresponding parts are designated by like reference characters in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates the bottom of the box, in the form of a flat disk, so as to provide a circular box, as this is the preferred form, although the shape may be varied as desired. Encircling the periphery of the disk is an upstanding rim 2, and fitted to the upper edge of the latter is a top or cover 3. These parts are constructed of wood in the usual manner.

In carrying out the present invention an opening tis provided centrally through the bottom of the box, and the lower face of the latter is provided with a plurality of radial grooves 5, extending from the periphery of the bottom and opening into the central opening 4. By reference to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the bottom of the box extends below the rim thereof, so that when the box is resting upon any flat surface the outer ends of the grooves 5 are open, whereby a direct passage dentally dropping into the same.

The present form of box is designed to contain several cheeses, as indicated by the numeral 8, and therefore it becomes necessary to separate the latter and hold them against movement within the box, so that the openinget in the bottom thereof may not become covered or closed by the cheeses. I have therefore provided a spacing device 9, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, which is formed from a single strip of veneer bent into a substantially quadrilateral form, having its opposite ends connected by asuitable wire staple 10. The sides 11 of the spacing device thus formed are bowed inwardly, so as to fit the peripheries of the respective "cheeses 8, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and, as shown in this figure, the spacing device is adapted to surround or inclose the opening provided through the bottom of the box and to confine the cheeses against the rim 2.

Thus it will be seen that the several cheeses so as to embrace the periphery of the cheeses,

as hereinbefore described. Furthermore, the spacing device may be fixedly connected to the bottom of the box or left free, as desired.

In the employment of the presentinvention it requires no change in the form of construction of the box, and the openings and the radial grooves may be easily and cheaply provided. Therefore my invention provides an exceedingly practical and inexpensive cheese-box which is effectively ventilated, whereby the cheeses contained therein are prevented from becoming moldy and are thereby preserved in good condition for a much longer time than when contained in an ordinary kind of cheese-box.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claim may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What I claim is- A ventilated packing and storing vessel adapted to contain cheeses, and provided with centrally-alined openings formed through the top and bottom of the vessel, the outer face of the bottom thereof being provided with radial grooves communicating at. their inner ends with the central opening in the bottom, and also opening outward at their outer ends through the outer sides of the bottom, and a spacing device resting upon the bottom of the vessel, surrounding the opening therein and terminating short of the top of the vessel, the sides of the spacing device being bowed inward to accommodate the cheeses, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto EtffiXGd my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD CHARLES BERRY. Witnesses:

PHILO K. WHEELER, FRANK MELLEN. 

